Ice tray grid



Dec. 1, 1942. E, w, HAUGH E L 2,303,636

ICE TRAY GRID Filed Sept. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Water Line Inventmra [H.Krueger E.\/\/- l'1augh Dec. 1,' 1942. w. HAUGH EI'AL ,3 3,

ICE TRAY GRID Filed Sept. 13, 1940 3 sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1942. E. w. HAUGH EIAL ICE TRAY GRID Filed Sept. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE TRAY GRID Earl W. Haugh and Cornelius H. Krueger, Manitowoc, Wis., assignors to Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company, Manitowoc, Wis.

Application September 13, 1940, Serial No. 356,686

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-1085) This invention relates to ice tray grids for separation of ice cubes from both the tray and grid, by means of a lever.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive grid, in which the transverse fins are shiftably mounted upon a longitudinal partitionfor successive release by a manually manipulated lever of any conventional type.

Incidental to the foregoing; a more specific object of the invention is to provide a grid structure of the foregoing character, in which the top edges of the longitudinal partition and transverse fins are flush for accommodation in a freezing compartment of minimum depth.

Another important object of the invention is to provide novel means for forming the transverse this, so that the same can be readily enstaged by a releasing tool, and whereby the fins will be effectively reinforced at the point of greatest strain. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a grid to which transverse resilient fins are rockably connected in a manner to require flexing in the releasing operation, which, in turn, causes the transverse fins to spring back to normal position for refilling oi the tray for subsequent freezing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means formed on One end transverse fin for engaging under the last two cubes of ice in the tray, so that upon shifting of .said end fin, the last two cubes of ice will be lifted up from the tray simultaneously with the breaking loose of the adjacent pair of ice cubes.

with the above and other objects in view,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2..

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing one of the transverse fins shifted to releasing position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tool or lever for shifting the transverse fins;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section illustrating a modification of the invention, in which the transverse fin is flexed releasing operation. I

tion. ure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but

showing the end transverse fin in its shifted position; and

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the end transverse fin.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanylng drawing, the numeral I designates a conventional ice tray provided with a peripheral stifiening head 2.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the grid constituting rtl e present invention comprises a longitudinal which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention residesin the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed-invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according'tothe best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 isa plan view of a conventional ice tray, quipped. with a grid constructed in accordance with one form or the present invention, parts being-broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structuraldetails.

partition 3, provided with spaced notches 4 having diverging front and rear edges 5 and 6, respectively. As indicated in Figure 2, the lower edges 1 of the notches 4 are preferably formed in line with the normal water level when the r tray is filled.

The longitudinal partitions is provided with spaced slots 8 adjacent its lower edge, and out' of alinement with the notches 4 to prevent the transverse fins 9 from assuming a vertical position, as will be hereinafter described in connection with the operation of the grid.

The transverse fins 9 are slotted intermediate their ends to straddle the longitudinal partition 3, and adjacent their lower edges are provided with abutted tongues [0 extending through the slots 8, to provide tiltable or rockable connections with the longitudinal partition 3.

As will be noted, the top portions of the transverse fins9, which straddle the longitudinal partition 3, are disposed within the notches 4, and to normally space the upper edges of the transverse fins from the rear edges 6 of the notches 4, the upper portion of the transverse fins are provided with transverse projections I I, preferably formed as ribs pressed out of the fins, to

reinforce the upper portion of the transverse fins, against which strain is exerted in the releasing operation, as will be later described.

In the releasing operation, any simple lever may be employed, such as a screw driver or household utensil, although an especially formed tool I2, such as shown in Figures 4 and may be furnished, the lower end of which terminates in an arcuate foot I3.

In operation, the lower arcuate end I3 of the lever I2 is inserted between the rear edge Ii of a notch 4, and the upper portion of the transverse fin 9. Upon rocking the lever, the transverse fin will be shifted to a forward position against the front edge 5 of the notch 4, as best shown in Figure 4, which action breaks the bond between the preceding cube and both the tray and transverse fin.

In that form of the invention disclosed in Figure 6, the slots I4 formed in the longitudinal partition 3 are similar to the slots 8, shown in Figures 2 and 4, and so arranged with relation to the notches I5 formed in the upper edge of the longitudinal partition, as to normally prevent engagement of the upper portion of the transverse fins 9 with the forward edges of the slots.

Therefore, to complete the releasing operation of the cubes, it is essential to fiex the upper edge of the transverse fins from the position a, indicated in dotted lines in Figures 6, to position b. Consequently, when the actuating lever is withdrawn from between the transverse fins and the rear edge of the notches I5, the fins will spring rearwardly past a vertical position, which insures an angular position when the ribs I I engage the rear edgesof the slots 4 for subsequent filling and freezing.

In practice, the transverse fins 9 are formed from an aluminum alloy, which is extremely hard and possessed of desired resiliency. I

It will also be appreciated that the projections or ribs I I serve to reinforce the upper or weakest portion of the transverse fins at the point against which strain is exerted by the releasing lever..

In the manufacture of the present grid, the cost of complicated tools and dies is eliminated, and, as explained, no special tool is required for the releasing operation.

In Figures 7 to 9, inclusive, another preferred form of the invention has been illustrated. In this form, one end transverse fin I6 has formed on its lower edge, on each side of the longitudinal partition I], ice cube lifting lips I8. These lips I8 are formed by slotting the lower edge of the fin I6 at spaced points, as at I9, and then curving the metal back between the slots.

The transverse fins I6 are assembled on the longitudinal partition I1 in the same manner as the forms previously described, and the fins are shifted likewise in the same manner, and by the use of a tool, such as illustrated in Figure 5.

During the shifting of the end fin I6, the last two cubes of ice will be broken loose and effectively raised upward a sufiicient distance to allow the convenient removal thereof. The breaking loose of the last two ice cubes willbe simultaneous with the releasing of the two forward adjacent ice cubes.

This feature is highly important and useful, in that in grids of this type, it has been impossible to effectively release the last two cubes in the tray. This was due to the fact that the crossgrid members or fins moved only in a forward direction, and, as a consequence, exerted no pressure on the last two cubes. Thus, by constructing the end cross-grid member or fin I in the manner shown, it is possible not only to release the two forward cubes, but release the two rear cubes as well.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that an exceedingly simple and inexpensive grid has been provided for ice cube trays, in which the upper edges of the longitudinal partition and transverse fins are fiush, thus enabling use of the trays in a freezing compartment of minimum depth, and permitting compact stacking.

Changes and details may -be made, but what we claim as new is:

l. A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a longitudinal partition provided with spaced notches in its upper edge, transverse fins rockably carried by said longitudinal partition for tilting movement and having upper portions positioned in said notches, and reinforcing projections on said upper portions extending outwardly from said transverse fins disposed in said notches and engaging the rear edges of the notches for spacing the major part of said upper portions from one of the vertical edges of said notches.

2. A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a longitudinal partition provided with spaced notches in its upper edge, and resilient transverse fins loosely connected to said longitudinal partition intermediate its upper and lower edges, said connections serving to normally hold the upper portions'of said fins out of engagement with the forward edges of said notches until said fins are flexed by means of a lever disposed between the rear edges of said notches and the upper portions of said fins, whereby upon release of said fins the same will spring back to their normal positlOIl.

3. A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a longitudinal partition provided with spaced notches in its upper edge, resilient transverse fins loosely,

connected to said longitudinal partition intermediate its upper and lower edges, said connections serving to normally hold the upper portion of said fins out of engagement with the forward edges of said notches until said fins are individually fiexed by means of a lever disposed between the rear edges of said notches and the upper portions of said fins, and projections on said upper portions of said fins for spacing the same from the rear edges of said notches.

4. A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a longitudinal partition provided with spaced notches in its upper edge, a plurality of transverse fins including end and intermediate fins rockably carried by said longitudinal partition and having upper portions positioned in said notches, projections on said upper portions of said transverse.

fins for spacing the same from one of the side edges of the notches, andmeans on the lower edge of one end transverse fin for breakingloose and lifting ice cubes in the rear of said end transverse fin upon the rocking thereof.

EARL W. HAUGH; CORNELIUS H. KRUEGER. 

